Bilateral machine for processing glass panes shaped like a parallelogram with non-right angles

ABSTRACT

A bilateral machine for processing panes shaped like a parallelogram with non-right angles, comprising an input station downstream of which there is a first bilateral unit which leads to an angle transfer assembly which is arranged upstream of a second bilateral unit, the angle transfer assembly comprising elements for rotation on the plane of arrangement of the pane being processed and elements which can be activated selectively for the alignment of the unprocessed edge of the pane being processed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, bilateral machines are already commercially available whichautomatically process the edges of rectangular or square glass panes,since the glass pane is first processed on two mutually opposite sides,by means of a first bilateral unit, and then the pane is introduced intoa transfer assembly, which causes the advancement of the pane along aperpendicular direction, achieving the processing of the other two sidesby means of a second bilateral unit.

Such types of machines allow to process automatically only panes whichhave a rectangular or square shape and consequently have four rightangles; if it is necessary to process panes which are shaped like aparallelogram but have non-right angles, currently the pane is insertedinto a machine with one side on the references of the bilateral machine,performing accordingly the processing on the first two parallel sides.

Thereafter, the pane has to be picked up manually and turned so as toinsert it in order to process the remaining two sides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to solve the problem described above byproviding a bilateral machine for processing panes shaped like aparallelogram with non-right angles, which allows to perform processingon the mutually opposite sides in a completely automatic manner.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a bilateralmachine which allows to perform processing in succession on all sideswithout requiring the manual intervention of the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bilateralmachine for processing panes shaped like a parallelogram with non-rightangles which, thanks to its particular constructive characteristics, iscapable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety inuse.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bilateralmachine which can be obtained easily starting from commonly commerciallyavailable elements and materials and is also competitive from a merelyeconomical standpoint.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparenthereinafter, are achieved by a bilateral machine for processing panesshaped like a parallelogram with non-right angles, according to theinvention, comprising an input station downstream of which there is afirst bilateral unit which leads to an angle transfer assembly which isarranged upstream of a second bilateral unit, characterized in that saidangle transfer assembly comprises means for rotation on the plane ofarrangement of the pane being processed and means which can be activatedselectively for the alignment of the unprocessed edges of the pane beingprocessed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent fromthe description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of abilateral machine for processing panes shaped like a parallelogram withnon-right angles, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the bilateral machine according tothe invention during insertion of the pane being processed in the firstbilateral unit;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bilateral machine with the pane on theangle transfer assembly;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bilateral machine after turning the pane onthe angle transfer assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view of the final step of the processing of the glass pane;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the angle transfer assemblywith the pane that arrives from the first bilateral unit;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged-scale perspective view of the detail of the panein output from the first bilateral unit;

FIG. 7 is a view of the pane on the angle transfer assembly, with themeans for alignment of the unprocessed edge of the pane being processedactivated;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the rotated pane;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, taken from the inner side, of the meansfor alignment of the unprocessed edge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the bilateral machine for processingpanes shaped like a parallelogram with non-right angles, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 1, comprises an input station 2,which is constituted by a traditional roller bed which has a fixedabutment 3 and is arranged downstream of a first bilateral unit 4 whichis advantageously of the twin multiple-head type, i.e., with a firstplurality of fixed heads 5, which are arranged on the abutment side, anda first plurality of movable heads 6, which are arranged on the oppositeside and can move to arrange themselves in accordance with the width ofthe pane; said head assemblies can be activated independently as afunction of the position of the glass pane.

Advantageously, the pane, designated by the reference numeral 10, isarranged on the loading station 2 so that its short sides are processedfirst and the leading vertex is preferably the vertex designated by thereference numeral 7 and arranged on the opposite side with respect tothe plurality of fixed abutment heads 5, i.e., arranged on the fixedside.

Downstream of the first bilateral unit 4 an angle transfer assembly isprovided, generally designated by the reference numeral 20, which hasmeans for transfer in the direction defined by the first bilateral unitwhich are constituted by belts 21 whose position can be varied in heightand which are interposed between shafts 22 on which rollers 23 arearranged which impart to the pane a translational motion at right anglesto the direction of transfer on the first bilateral unit and in adirection which corresponds to the processing direction on a secondbilateral unit 30, which is arranged downstream of the angle transferassembly and has, in a per se known manner, a second plurality of fixedabutment heads 31 with fixed positioning and a second plurality ofmovable heads 32 with variable positioning, which are mutually oppositeand can arrange themselves as a function of the width of the pane, likethe heads 5 and 6 of the first bilateral unit.

The peculiar characteristic of the invention consists in that there aremeans for rotation on the plane of arrangement of the pane beingprocessed which in practice are provided by the belts 21 themselves incooperation with means for the alignment of the non-processed edge,which can be activated selectively.

Such means are constituted by a plurality of abutment rollers 40, whichprotrude radially from a positioning bar 41 which is connected to anactuation element 42, which in practice allows to lower and lift therollers 40 with the rotation of the positioning bar 41.

In greater detail, the pane 10, once processing on the first edges,which are preferably the shorter sides, has been performed, is made toadvance to the angle transfer assembly, where the belts continue theadvancement of the pane by a certain extent so as to be certain that thetrailing corner of the pane 10 is carried, with respect to thetranslational direction, beyond the abutment line with respect to thesecond bilateral unit.

Once the pane has been moved forward, the rollers 40 are raised, definethe abutment line and are positioned so that the first roller, arrangedproximate to the abutment edge formed by the head assembly 5, is shiftedso that the vertex of the pane does not touch such roller during theretraction of the pane for rotation.

Once the transfer of the pane onto the angle transfer assembly has beenperformed, the belts are turned in the opposite direction, producing arelative sliding with respect to the pane which, by engaging the rollers40, is forced to rotate, thus moving one of the non-processed sides intoabutment against the alignment line, which is formed by the rollers 40and is aligned also with the plurality of abutment heads 31 arranged onthe second bilateral unit, which performs in this manner the processingof the pane also on the remaining two sides, having obtained therotation of the pane in a completely automatic manner.

From what has been described above it is therefore evident that theinvention achieves the intended aim and objects, and in particular thefact is stressed that an angle transfer assembly is provided which isobtained by means of belts which initially rise with respect to therollers, so as to pick up the pane that arrives from the first bilateralunit, and subsequently descend, so that the pane can be picked up, afterbeing turned, by the rollers which send it to the second bilateral unit.

Advantageously, the pane must be arranged so that the trailing cornerwith respect to the feed direction of the pane lies at the fixedabutment line which is formed by the fixed working heads 5, so thatthere is the certainty that the corner does not collide with a roller40, with the possibility of damage thereto.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations, all which are within the scope of the appended claims.

All the details may further be replaced with other technicallyequivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions and thecontingent shapes, may be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2006A001234 fromwhich this application claims priority are incorporated herein byreference.

1. A bilateral machine for processing panes shaped like a parallelogram with non-right angles, comprising an input station downstream of which there is a first bilateral unit which leads to an angle transfer assembly which is arranged upstream of a second bilateral unit, wherein said angle transfer assembly comprises means for rotation on a plane of arrangement of a pane being processed and means which can be activated selectively for the alignment of unprocessed edges of said pane being processed.
 2. The bilateral machine according to claim 1, wherein said angle transfer assembly comprises means for transfer in a direction of motion of the pane on said first bilateral unit which are adapted to provide said means for rotation on the plane of arrangement of the pane being processed.
 3. The bilateral machine according to claim 2, wherein said means for transfer in the direction defined by said first bilateral unit comprise belts with variable vertical positioning which are interposed between rollers for the transfer of said pane being processed along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a transfer direction formed on said first bilateral unit.
 4. The bilateral machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for the alignment of the non-processed edge comprise abutment rollers which protrude on command with respect to a plane formed by said belts in order to provide an abutment for said pane being processed upon actuation of said belts in a direction which is opposite with respect to a direction for transfer from said first bilateral unit to said angle transfer assembly.
 5. The bilateral machine according to claim 4, further comprising a positioning bar from which said abutment rollers protrude radially, an actuation element being further provided for lowering and lifting said abutment rollers with the rotation of said positioning bar.
 6. A method for processing panes shaped like a parallelogram with non-right angles, comprising the steps of: arranging a pane being processed on a first bilateral unit so that a leading vertex is arranged on an opposite side with respect to an abutment edge formed by processing heads of said first bilateral unit, processing first two sides, transferring the pane onto an angle transfer assembly, provided with belts with a vertically adjustable working surface, making a rear end of the pane being processed pass beyond a processing line of the other edge, which is formed by a second bilateral unit, lifting a plurality of abutment rollers which are mutually aligned, reversing the motion of said belts with rotation by slippage of the pane on the belts with arrangement of the other sides to be processed in alignment with said abutment rollers, lowering said belts below a working surface and transferring said pane onto the second bilateral unit for processing the other two sides.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the processing of the short sides of said pane is performed on said first bilateral unit. 